Beth's POV

I put that small flower on my vanity and thought about my ghost friend. I'm not stupid I knew he wasn't a real ghost, but he was something different enough to avoid being seen. Whil I was waitressing I heard a new report about mutant research and thats when lightening struck. My friend was a mutant, he must look different so he hides himself.

"How sad."

"What's sad?" I jumped not realizing I'd spoken aloud. It was Jim, a regular at the diner sipping at his morning coffee. I pointed to the t.v which showed an anti-mutant protest. He looked at it and nodded.

"Your right none of this would have to happen if they'd just passed the mutant registration act five years ago."

"You really believe that?" Jim looked at me in shock. Usually I never spoke and when I did it was in a little quiet whisper.

"Yeah Beth I believe that. In fact one of my boys told me he found a mutie hiding out in an old church. We're gonna go down there tonight." My heart picked up and I barely contained my gasp. Luckily I kept my mouth shut until Jim left the diner. Then I called out to the owner.

"Hey Sissy, I'm not feeling good. I'm going to take off early." She nodded to me bored, it was slow today anyway. Without even stopping at my place to change out of my waitress outfit I ran down the street as fast as I could. By the time I got to the church I was wheezing and doubled over trying to get my breath, but I didn't stop as I barreled into the church.

"Hey!" I called out in a rasping voice. As quick as I could I tried to scream out that my ghost had to run but I couldn't. My breath wouldn't come back and my muscles where buckling. Panicking I tore through my purse as I fell to my knees trying to find my inhaler. But it was to late I saw stars as I saw the floor coming to my face. Then there was nothing but darkness and crushing suffocation, even half conscious I could feel my lungs collapsing searching for air that wasn't there. Then I felt air rush into my lungs and I drank it in greedily and then heard a gentle voice order me to sleep and I didn't fight it.

When I woke up I instantly wanted to sleep again. I could feel soft cotton under my body and a warmth cocooning me. So reluctantly I opened my eyes and wondered about my surroundings it was small and warm. It looked like it was still part of the church but in a back room. It had been repaired enough so it was dry and cozy it seemed I was laying in a cot off to the side was a small table and a few books on top. The room was lit up with a bunch of candles that gave of a safe yellow glow. Slowly I sat up and saw that I'd been wrapped in the same blanket I'd left before. There was the sound of an explosion in front of me, and I looked up. There was a cloud of whispy blue smoke and a smell of sulfur. When it cleared I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped me, and the person whipped around quickly. It seemed I shocked him as much as he shocked me because for a long time we just watched each other.

He was blue, not blue like he'd been in the cold to long. Like his skin was colored blue. Even in his dark hair I could see blue highlights in the light. He was covered up in faded clothes and a jacket but no shoes and it's no wonder, his feet weren't shaped for shoes. Also his hands I could see he only had two, and a thumb. But that was nothing compared to the pointed tail I could see swaying lazily behind him. Most of all were his eyes, they were wide with a golden yellow color. In the low light they seemed to glow with a weary look, like an animal trying to decide if it should run or not. Finally he moved, slowly like he was afraid I would scream or a attack him. Eventually he lowered himself into a chair never once moving his eyes away from mine.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked in a voice that was quiet with a distinct German accent that told me English wasn't his first language. It was the voice of my ghost friend, it just sounded different because it wasn't echoing at me from the rafters. He scrunched down and gestured to himself helplessly.

"Forgive me I had meant to introduce myself in a lower light. So to avoid scaring you." That's when I realized he was waiting for me to say something.

"No I'm not scared, you just startled me is all." He nodded and we had a bit of an awkward silence neither of us knowing what to say. Then I spotted my book on his table and I pointed to it.

"Have you enjoyed it?" He looked over to what I was pointing at and a small smile crossed his face.

"Ja very much, ze writing is very witty." Returning his smile I put a hand to my forehead and hissed in pain when my fingers brushed a goose egg.

"What happened to me?" I asked standing and taking the chair next to him. He reached down and handed me my purse before speaking.

"You ran in in a great hurry. Then you fell in zome zort fit. I gave you ze medicine in your bag, and you fell azleep. Zo I picked you up and let you rest here." Smiling I nodded and looked him in the eye.

"You need to tell me your name so I can say thank you properly." He straightened in his chair a bit and answered.

"I am Kurt Vagner," then he's chest puffed out a bit proudly. "but in ze Munich Circus I vas known as ze Incredible Nightcrawler." I held out my hand to him and responded.

"Well I'm very grateful to both Kurt Wagner and Nightcrawler." I could see the hesitation but soon enough he reached out and grasped my hand in his. It felt strange with the way his hand was shaped, and even though it was nervous his grip was strong. When we released each other he looked at me with a wondering look.

"Not zat I'm complaining, but vhy are you not afraid of me?" I had to think of my answer because I wasn't sure why myself.

"I guess because I knew you felt you had a reason to hide up in the rafters, it kind of struck me like a Quasimoto kind of thing." Kurt looked down with a shy smile on his face.

"I never really liked ze HunchbackofNotreDame it alvays seemed so sad in ze end." I shrugged then it clicked. Why I'd nearly killed myself to get here so fast.

"Oh, Gosh! I nearly forgot! Kurt you need to get away from here, some guys know your here and I'm afraid they might try to hurt you." He looked up at me shocked and began to tidy up his space and spoke over his shoulder.

"Zat is alright. I'll make sure zhey don't find me, and eventually zhey vill leave. Besides I have novhere else to sleep." I knew he was offering false comfort, and I knew what Jim could be like when he set his mind on something. Coming to a decision I walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He whipped his head over to me seeming shocked that I'd touched him.

"Come with me." I said with conviction. His yellow eyes widened in shock then confusion.

"Vhat did you say?" I looked nodded my head my decision seeming more right by the minute.

"I said come with me. Stay at my house, at least for the night. In the morning if they've left then you come back here. But please I can't leave you here thinking you could be in danger." We both noticed that I hadn't removed my hand from his shoulder. My shyness catching up with me I removed it blushing a little. Kurt's eyes fell away from mine looking a little shamed.

"Zat is very kind of you Bethany, but..."

"No buts. We're friends right?" His eyes flew back to my and the glowing orbs looked like they were looking for something. Finally his head bowed in resignation.

"Ja, ve are friends. I vill come vith you, just for ze night."

And so we continue, I'm going to let the story build its self for the next few chapters. So far I like where it's going and I like the two characters interaction so far. I think Bethany is someone that needs a friend as much as Kurt does. If you have suggestions, like the story, or even if you hate it Please Review.